JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Local residents will commemorate the 37th anniversary of
the transfer of sovereignty over Irian Jaya from the Netherlands to the
Republic of Indonesia through the United Nations Temporary Executive Authority
(Untea) on May 1.
The Papuan Presidium Council announced on Tuesday that a mass prayer to celebrate
the historic moment was scheduled to take place here.
In a statement signed by its leaders, Theys Hiyo Eluay and Tom Beanal, the
council said that May 1 would be remembered as a rights violation committed by
the governments of Indonesia and the Netherlands and the United Nations..
To anticipate possible violence during the commemoration, the council called on
the Irianese in all parts of the province not to hoist the separatist Morning
Star flag.
In a related development, chairman of the West Papuan Youth Committee Izak
Yapsenang, dismissed the appeal.
"We are disappointed that the congress scheduled for May 1 was arbitrarily
postponed by the council. We will encourage people to hoist the Morning Star
flag instead and demand leading figures to announce a transitional government,"
Izak told The Jakarta Post. (eba)
